Letter to the Editor: Should be voted down

I am urging people to ask Congress to oppose giving President Obama Fast Track Trade Promotion Authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) being negotiated by the USA with 11 other nations, including Japan.

Japan has not been an open market for U.S. products due to a number of factors, including non-trade barriers, distribution barriers and currency manipulation that subsidizes its automakers. A TPP agreement with Japan would enable Japan to competitively serve the American market from their non-U.S. plants while continuing to restrain America's access to the Japanese market.

In case the TPP is eventually submitted to Congress, it should be voted down unless the TPP forces Japan to provide equal open access to its auto market for U.S. auto exports. Any agreement short of this would be harmful to America's auto industry, its employees and its retirees.